Children Quote by Frank Morton McMurry
““Many parents as well as teachers refuse to place this responsibility upon children for fear of the mistakes that they will make. On account of this fear they make it as nearly as possible unnecessary for children to judge freely, by giving them arbitrary rules to follow, or by directing them exactly what they shall do each moment. This cultivates poor judgment by depriving children of the very practice that will make their judgments reliable; it prevents the school requirements from corresponding to those in life outside.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The School and Society by Frank Morton McMurry, 1895
Children develop reliable judgment through practice; over‑protective rules hinder this growth.
In simple terms: Kids need freedom to learn judgment.
Key Takeaway
Allow kids to make choices and learn from mistakes.
Themes
education
judgment
parenting
Mood
concerned
thoughtful
Type
advisory
reflective
When to use this quote
- classroom
- home
- extracurricular activities
Key Concepts
developmental psychology
autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance safety with judgment practice?
- What safe boundaries support learning?
A Different Perspective
Too much freedom can lead to unsafe decisions without guidance.
